What was that? You didn't say Marvin? I'm deaf as a post, sonny! Too much Calliopeeing!
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One thing before we begin on another very diverse set of 6-EP pack: you can download Matthew Perryman Jones's first album for free or a mere $1 via noisetrade.com. I will admit that I could not get noisetrade to work (it was only offering Kate York and I could not browse through their artist), but maybe you'll have better luck.
Noisetrade looks interesting, you can pay $1 or tell three of your friend for a free download. It's a great idea, and I've been trying to saying for a while now: make download free or cheap and it will encourage people from seeing you on tour and/or buy merchandise from you.
This promotion is due to his upcoming album, Swallow the Sea to be released on Thirty Tigers on August 19th. You can even preview Swallow the Sea album on breakingoutthewindows.com, although it does require you to register.
Also, for more downloads, check out free downloads on site.w♥m.
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FALLOUT 3
fallout.bethsoft.com ♥ gamestop.com
I'm a longtime Fallout fan, and I recently put down some preorder money for the Deluxe Edition because Gamestop was offering a free 5-track CD. The Fallout 3 Soundtrack features their theme song of The Ink Spots' "I Don't Want To Set The World On Fire". I might try and dig up the first two Fallout games and replay them in anticipation to the third game, revisit the classic Louis Armstrong's "A Kiss To Build A Dream On" as that was heavily used in the second game. Anyway, if you were intending on getting Fallout 3, you might want to get a bonus EP out of by going to Gamestop. PS, my character of choice was a sharpshooter with lots of strength to wear the Brotherhood of Steel's armor and to shoot those heavy guns. |
MtO
mr-mto.com ♥ myspace.com
I had a pretty hard time locating mister MtO, as there is a rapper crew from California, also called MTO. This MtO is a DJ from Paris, France. This latest release is Bring it On Now, a three-track EP with three different version of the same song. At first listen, all three sounds basically the same, but the Remote mix seems to be slowed down a bit (this is evident on the vocals "bring it on now"). I thought the Original mix is pretty accessible/poppy, complete with backup "oy" sound. It ends up that Hatchmatik stood out here, I think mostly because I like the clapping used on the mix. Like all remix/DJ releases, I think that the real talent is actually live mixing and I don't know if that translate well on a recorded medium. If you're a fan trance and beats, definitely give this a spin, you can get the record from Coco Machete Records. |
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MIDDLE CLASS RUT
reverbnation.com/middleclassrut ♥ myspace.com
The "MC" in MC Rut does not stand for Master of Ceremony, but "Middle Class". Another misconception you might have is that this "EP" contains nine songs (officially 8 songs, but there is a not-so-hidden 9th called "Start To Run"), clocking over 40 minutes - longer than many punk albums I own! Apparently this band consists of only two members, guitarist Zack Lopez and drummer Sean Stockham, both of whom were on a major label band called Leisure when they were only in their teens. By default, I usually think the first song on a single or EP is the most important, but I'll have to say that I will pass that up for "New Low" - which contains a catchy line "I got a new low, all fifty-two cards in a row". Middle Class Rut is playing one show at the end of the month (August 31st) with The Force at Anaheim, California. Be sure to pick up their latest EP, MC Rut EP from their myspace. |
THE JEFF MICHAEL BAND
thejeffmichaelband.com ♥ myspace.com
Despite what you may think, I actually really like Country music, and the Jeff Michael Band does have a little bit of a country twang to them. Check out "When Will I See You Again", their lead song on The Other Side EP. Although it looks like he does have a full band backing up mister Michael, you never really see them in photographs on his myspace or official website. All the photos shows off a handsome Jeff Michael. The Other Side is the second EP from this talented young musician, whose influences includes classics like The Beatles (especially on "Let Her Go") to John Mayer, but I do get a sense of a little Dylan (on "Enjoy the Ride"). He's playing one date (Sep 24th) at the M Bar in Hollywood, California. Be sure to grab his latest EP at CD Baby. |
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ETERNAL DESCENT
eternaldescent.com ♥ myspace.com
We previously mentioned Eternal Descent before, and I said they reminded me of Evanescence. As a cover lover, when I got their latest EP, The Phantom of the Opera, I instantly needed to hear their cover version of this Andrew Lloyd Webber classic. Wow, it didn't disappoint me, this song is an industrial metal with a "duet" of a demonic-sounding Phantom. The b-sides consists of only two mostly-instrumental songs "Legends" and "Fallen", both are good, but I felt was overshadowed by the first track, "Phantom". I think they were really designed as background music, as you're reading the comic book (you can see a preview of it on their myspace, I couldn't find any details on how to actually get a copy of the book). With Losing Faith, I previously mentioned looks kind of anime, but this new cover art by Jason Metcalf feels more superhero. The art reminds me of Michael Turner, who unexpectedly died this year. Anyway, you can pick up the latest EP from cdbaby, be sure to read about Losing Faith. |
SPiN
spinrocks.com ♥ myspace.com
This is SPiN, a Philadelphia band with their 2007 EP called, er, what else? EP. In a recent discussion with cranky, she pointed out that Music Exchange was cross-promoting Philadelphia and Minneapolis bands. This is kind of interesting, because previously, I wouldn't associate these two cities together, you know? Plague with a common moniker, searching for SPiN's website was really hard. I eventually found it, but if I had trouble... then there's a problem for fans to find you. Apparently the band is sponsored by their drink of choice, Jagermeister, an interesting choice, since I get the impression that they sponsor more harder music such as Ozzy Osbourne and Metallica. If you listen to them, they sound more like powerpop/rock. Check out their burst of energy song, "Not In Love". You know, the more I hear "I'm not in love, I'm not in love, no no, not in love with you", the more I get the feeling that he's actually in love with her. Still the chorus is pretty catchy. Be sure to check out these live dates:
08/28/08 The National Underground New York, New York
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Read more Attack of the EPs.
Links:
www.weheartmusic.com
After a deep deep nap in the late afternoon, and inspired by a "new merchandise" email I rec'd yesterday, I dragged myself out of bed and down to the pathetic Long Beach Plaza (or whatever it's called now) to visit Nordstrom Rack. Well, I may not know much but I know NONE of that merch made it to Long Beach. I found a couple nice pair of shoes but decided not to buy either. Tried some shorts - hated them all, especially at the "discount" price of $17 (I was expecting $4). Nordstrom... I don't know why you hate fat women so much but I gotta tell you, your selection of plus size merch is truly scary.
On a lark, I then wandered next door to Ross (who did I just made very happy)?? The store was noticeably short on merchandise and smelled of ant spray. A looooong time later, I had found 1 dress that didn't really fit but I liked as a kind of modern shirt (might look cute with some spanx. or i might be fooling myself) and "had" to buy cause it said it was size 16 regular, when I'm actually a 20W. I also found it in 16W, which technically fit better (and, unlike the 16, had all of it's original beadwork) but I liked the overall effect of the 16 reg better. While checking out, I found a "little black dress", in 16W (ooops... just learned it was mismarked, it's actually also a 16 regular), by the same brand and snagged it without a try on. Bought them both ($20 and $18, respectively). Tried on the black dress and home (after discovering that I'd left the house with the back door wide open - thankfully it doesn't face a street or alley) and it's gonna be a stretch to make it work. Definitely needs a girdle (or whatever they call the modern version of those). I should probably exchange it but at $18, it's not worth the effort. I'll keep it to wear to some place dark (where my fat rolls will blend into the night).
After shopping, I took off for home, rather disappointed with my evening. I spied a new It's A Grind coffeehouse so I decided to stop (since I was planning to drive to the one in Signal Hill anyway).
About 10 min after I got in there, "Maria" walked in and settled herself at my table. What a joy this woman is! Kind of nutty - but in a way that's so appealing that, if it were my store, I'd give her free coffee & food just to get her in there every day and engaging customers.
She's 77. I would have guessed mid/late 50s. She has a glass eye that she got in Sweden. She's getting lasik in her other eye. She cried tears of joy when her plane arrived in America. She sells short stories, screenplays, and political jokes to KCET, several other channels, and some sort of print media (I missed that part). Her stories changed randomly. Her son (one of several?) is 54. He, or one of them, works at a german bar in Alpine Village. Or maybe he runs a karaoke store in Santa Monica. Or he helps her cross-breed orchids. She's a horticulturist, anthropologist, and bunch of other stuff I forgot. Mostly, she's just fun and a joy to talk with! She kept me entertained long past the time my parking meter had expired (no ticket so it must have been destiny).
She sang me a lot of big band songs and invited me to some german bar for big band music on Monday night. I gave her my real cell phone number! Despite promising Miss Scotch that I wouldn't show anyone the pics of her in her wedding dress, I showed one to Maria. She thought Scotch was beautiful and wished her a happy wedding.
I'm supposed to tell you that Maria the owner of the coffee shop (thus why she posed with the coffee) and I never have to pay for drinks again. So... she's the owner of the coffee shop. Okay?
She was a random encounter who completely made my night!
Hello Fabulous Readers! Lilia Photography has been nominated in the Best Wedding Photographer category on SFGate's BayList. Please vote for us!
The only bummer is that you'll have to register on SFGate.com, but it
should take less than a minute to register. Many, many thanks!
... but the mole is still coming off. Sept 4. Sometime after 11am.
He thinks it's just a benign growth - but it will be biopsied anyway.
Small problem of transportation - the surgery center is about 15 miles from my home and probably won't let me drive. But, ya know, the rest of the world WORKS during the day... so I'm not sure how I'll be working that out. Right now, I'm thinking I'll park nearby, take a bus to the center and maybe a taxi back to my car. I mean, I'm just gonna have one eye patched (and a couple days of feeling like I have pink eye). I don't think I'm going to be knocked out at all I don't see any reason for that. Then again, they told me no food or water 8 hrs before, so maybe they are planning to put me under. I suppose I should call & ask about that. If that's the plan, I should move the surgery to a local hospital instead (it was an option). I don't know. Month away - I'm not gonna worry about it just yet.
They also did a full eye exam. I have an ocular pressure issue that makes my eyes have bulges/ridges where my lids meet. I've always noticed it but didn't think anything about it. Apparently the fact that it doesn't cause headaches means it's no big deal. Eye pressure & vision were fine (except it was obvious to me that I'm getting dramatically near sighted, thanks computers!!).
His assistant dilated my pupils and told me I wouldn't be able to drive - so I called work to take the day off. The dilation turned out not to affect my vision too much (had to hold my cell phone an extra foot away to read it - that's it), but made me REALLY tired (??), so I considered going to work after all (even though I really didn't want to). Till I got in the sunshine - then WHOPPER headache. So I came home and now my Bambi eyes and I are chilling in my slightly dark living room.
Oh, goodie... GI probs just returned with a vengeance. Wonder what the hell brought that on. Glad I already have the day off!
and on that TMI note... it's nap time!
If you could, which film would you un-watch or which book would you un-read?
Submitted by Kate.
The English Patient, both the movie and the book. I saw the movie and hated it, thought maybe the book was better. No, it was just as stupid as the movie.